Skip Navigation



Nicotine & Tobacco Research Advance Access published online on November 6, 2009
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, doi:10.1093/ntr/ntp164
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Article Summary
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Amodei, N.
Right arrow Articles by Lamb, R. J.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Amodei, N.
Right arrow Articles by Lamb, R. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

The role of nicotine replacement therapy in early quitting success

Nancy Amodei and R. J. Lamb

Nancy Amodei, Ph.D., Departments of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
R. J. Lamb, Ph.D., Departments of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX and Departments of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX

Corresponding author: Nancy Amodei, Ph.D., Departments of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. Telephone: 210-567-7424; Fax: 210-567-7443; E-mail: amodei{at}uthscsa.edu


  Abstract

Introduction: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is an effective but underutilized smoking cessation aid despite being available over the counter. This exploratory study examined whether voluntary early use of NRT predicted cessation in a self-initiated quit attempt better than other commonly studied variables.

Methods: Data were collected from 99 adult smokers desiring to quit smoking in the near future over a 10-day baseline period prior to the implementation of a contingency management intervention. NRT use was neither encouraged nor discouraged during the study. Initial abstinence, biochemically verified using a criterion of CO level <4 ppm, was conceptualized in 2 ways: (a) any day of baseline abstinence and (b) the sum of baseline days abstinent. We examined the predictive value of NRT use as well as demographics, self-efficacy, motivational readiness, and nicotine dependence.

Results: While greater self-efficacy was predictive of initial abstinence, NRT use was the most consistent predictor. The odds of abstaining at least 1 day during baseline were 16.8 times greater for those who used NRT on Day 1 than nonusers. Self-efficacy and "any baseline NRT use" contributed significant amounts of variance to the "sum of days abstinent," with the overall model explaining 29% of the variance (p < .001). The sum of baseline days of NRT use and use of NRT on Day 1 also predicted the "sum of days abstinent."

Discussion: Given NRT's effectiveness, but underutilization in real-world settings, the data support the need for interventions or strategies encouraging people to use NRT in their quit attempts.

Received: February 12, 2009; Accepted: September 23, 2009
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.